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United States Patent | 5,005,961 |
O'Brien | April 9, 1991 |
An active optical system is described which includes a mirror deformable by a force applied through a device for converting a displacement in a direction into a force in the same direction. A stepper motor is selectively driven to cause rotation of a nut which drives a shaft longitudinally. Linear displacement of the shaft is applied to force generating flexures which are guided in their flexing by guidance flexures. Force is applied to the mirror by the force generating flexures. The force is maintained even when the stepper motor is not energized. A load cell is interposed between the mirror and the force generating flexures. Signals from the load cell are fed back to a control system.
Inventors: | O'Brien; Michael J. (Rochester, NY) |
Assignee: | Eastman Kodak Company (Rochester, NY) |
Appl. No.: | 452892 |
Filed: | December 19, 1989 |
Current U.S. Class: | 359/849; 359/846; 359/871 |
Intern'l Class: | G02B 005/08; G02B 005/10; G02B 007/18 |
Field of Search: | 350/607,611,327,487,636,631 |
3063670 | Nov., 1962 | Young | 248/358. |
4060315 | Nov., 1977 | Heinz | 350/289. |
4295710 | Oct., 1981 | Heinz | 350/310. |
4538882 | Sep., 1985 | Tanaka et al. | 350/255. |
4596444 | Jun., 1986 | Ushida | 350/247. |
4664488 | May., 1987 | Sawicki et al. | 350/611. |